Electric fan



Nov. 22, 1927. 1,650,165

' R. R. TURNER ET AL ELECTRIC FAN 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1927 gvmwnto'a l I; I I tio'wwq 3 Sheets-Sheet g.

attozmq Nov. 22, 1927.

' R. R. TURNER ET AL ELECTRIC FAN Filed March 29. 1927 Nov. 22,.1927.

, R. R. TURNER ET AL ELECTRIC FAN Filed March 9. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwuentoq R.R Tu r7161" 1 3R, 712/2251; J

Patented Nov. 22, .1927.

UNl-TEl.) STATES PATENT OFFlQn.

RALPH It. TULUNER AND RALPH RJTUREIER, JP (1F HARLOT'IE, NORTH CAROLINA.

v v nnnc'rnro ran.

Application nu March 29, 1927. serial 110.17%),299.

A still further object of the invention is to -prov1de a novel and nnp'roved structure oit this character facilitating the transmission of current to the motor by which the tan is operated.

These and other objects we attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of our invention and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation partially in section of an electric fan constructed in ac cordance with our invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1; I 1

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view therethrough I Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gear guard; i

Figure 5 is asection on the line 55 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the motor casing of a fan and 11 the armature shaft of the motor. In the present illust 'ation, the motor casing is illustrated as that of the ordinary oscillating fan struc ture, which includes a housing 12 depending from one end bearing 18 of the armature shaft and within which is rotatably mounted a shaft 14: driven jrom the armature shaft 11, as at 15.

In accordance with our invention, we pro vide a base 16 having anupstanding neck, generally designated at 17. This neck is formed in two sections 18 and 19, of which the section 18 has mean whereby it may be secured to the motor casing and the section 19 is secured directly to the base 16. Ar

ranged in the neck structure and extending into the base 1s assembly coinprlsing an inner conduct ng tube 20, an inner insulating ring 21 surrounding the conducting tube, an outer conducting tube 22 surrounded in turn by'an outer insulating tube 23 and an outer casing tube 241, which is preferably constructed of steel. T he tubes to 2% progressively decrease in length and are so arranged at opposite ends thereof, the ends of all of the tubes are exposed. The outer casing tube 22% rotatably fits the interior of the neck section 19 and is secured in position in the neck section 18 by screws 25.

Surrounding this outer tube, intermediate the ends thereof, is a collar 26 forming a carrier for bearing balls 27, which interpose be tween adjacent ends oi the neck sections 18 and 19. The lower end of the casing tube is exteriorly threaded and has mounted thereon a threaded ring 27 and a lock nut 28 therefor. The ring 27 opposes the lower end or the lowerneck section 19 and surrounding the casing tube between the ring and the lower end of the neck section a collar 29 similar to the collar 26.

The upper end ofthecasing section 19 has secured thereto by screws 30 a battle gear 31, the securing elements of which are covered by a plate 32 forming a seat upon which the balls QYengage. Secured to the upper section is a supporting arm 33, the lower end of which provides a bearing M tor a shaft- 35 having at its opposite ends pinions 36 and 37 for engagement with the gear 31 and a gear 38 carried by the lower end of the shaft 1 1 respectively. ltwill be obvious that as the armature shaft 11 rotates, this rotation will be transmitted to the gear 38 and the gear 36 thereby caused to rotate, with the result that the housing and upper nech section will rotate with relation to the base. It will also be obvious that whether the fan be arranged in the ordinary position or inverted, it will be supported from ball bearings, so that the resistance ailorded to rotation will be inaterially reduced.

Arranged within the 16 is an insulating strip 39 supported "from the wall oi the base and having at its inner end resilient contact strips 40 and 11 engaging the exposed lower ends of the tubes 22 and 20 respectively. Certain of the securing elements 12 of these strips provide binding screws, whereby the feed Wires 13 may be attached thereto. At the upper end of the neck section 18, the tubes 20 and 22 are electrically connected to the motor leads a l. r

A protecting housing is provided to cover the gearing comprising a casing formed in two sections L5, each of which is notched at its upper and lower walls, at 6, so that when the sections are combined, openings are provided, for the reception of the neck sections 18 and 19. In the tormati n oi the notches in the upper wall, tabs are left at a7, which may be bent upwardly and engaged with the binding screws 25, holding the tube 24: in position. Adjacent edges oi the upper wall of the section are further provided with notches i8 combining in the assembled relation of the sections to form an opening for the passage 01' the arm 33 and other notches 49 combining to form an opening for the reception of the housing 12. The sections of the casing may be held in assembled relation by a securing element 50 directed through openings 51 formed in the side walls thereof.

It will be obvious that a construction of this character may be very readily and cheaply produced and will be durable and eflicient in service. It will also be obvious that the construction hereinbeii'ore set forth is capable of a certain range of change and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention and we accordingly do not limit ourselves to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

1. In a rotating electric fan structure, a fan motor, a casing therefor, a base, a neck connecting the base and motor casing, the neck being formed in two relatively rotatable sections one of which is secured to the motor casing and the other of which is secured to the base, a sleeve secured to the first nan ed neck section and rotatably extended through the last named neck section, a thrust bearing between the neck sections and surrounding said sleeve, a collar on the lower end of said sleeve confronting the lower end of the last named neck section, a thrust bearing interposed between said collar and the lower end neaonee of the neck section, concentric conducting tubes within said sleeve and insulated from one another and the sleeve, a connection strip supported "from the base and contacts carried by said connection strips and engaging the ends of said tubes, the upper ends of said tubes being connected to the motor leads.

2. In a rotating electric fan structure, afan motor, a casing therefor, a base, a neck connecting the base and motor casing, the

neck being formed in two relatively rotatable sections one 01 which is secured to the motor casing and the other oi which is secured to the base, means connecting the neck sections while permitting relative rotation thereoi, a gear secured to the base section, a shaft driven from the motor and having a gear, a counter-shaft supported from the lirst named neck section having pinions engaging said gears, a cover for said gearing formed in two sections having coacting notches combining to produce apertures for the passage of the neck, means for holding the sections in assembled relation and means securing the sec- :iions oi? the guard to the first named neck section.

In combination with a rotating tan structure including amotor, a casing theretor, a base, a neck connecting the base and casing and peri'nitting relative rotation thereof, means causing relative rotation when the motor is operated, means for transmitting current to the motor comprising concentric tubes co-axial with the neck and held against rotation with relation to the motor casing, electrical connections between the upper ends oi said tubes and the motor leads, a connection strip within the base and spring con tacts carried by said connection strip and engaging the lower ends of said tubes.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our signatures.

RALPH 1t. TURNER.

RALPH R. TURNER, Jn. 

